Presence of Six Potentially Pathogenic Viruses in Pigs Suffering from PMWS

This Slovakian study examined the role of multiple virus infections in young pigs of different ages with post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). They found that the presence of PRRSV exacerbated the symptoms of PMWS and that a PCV2 vaccination reduced viral co-infections.

In a paper in BMC Veterinary Research recently, Stefan Vilcek and colleagues at the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Slovakia, explain that porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is an aetiological agent of porcine circovirus diseases (PCVDs). Post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) as the most important PCVD is considered a multifactorial disease.

It has previously been demonstrated that not only PCV2 but several viruses are associated with PMWS. However, studies of viral co-infections in PMWS pigs led often to controversial results.

The aim of theirwork was to determine the presence of emerging (PRRSV), re-emerging (PTV) and newly-emerging (TTSuV1, TTSuV2, PBoV1) viruses in samples of dead pigs suffering from PMWS.

The researchers also investigated the impact of vaccination against PCV2 and the influence of age on the occurrence of single and multiple viral infections in pigs.

Viruses were detected by PCR, RT-PCR and real-time PCR in the pooled tissue samples (lymph nodes, liver and spleen) of pigs with PMWS (n=56) which were divided into three groups: suckling piglets, post-weaning pigs and fattening pigs.